| It is no secret that the sun can be harnessed to | | | | coals were burdensome. It's popularity diminished |
| provide a source of energy for homes and | | | | with the discovery of an abundance of natural gas |
| businesses. | | | | and oil deposits. Now they are making a |
| The sun is a powerful star. It supplies us with | | | | comeback to replace the depleting fossil fuels that |
| energy, through a process called nuclear fusion, | | | | had taken its place. |
| and sustains life on our planet Earth. Solar energy, | | | | Solar energy can be in the form of heat energy |
| or energy from the sun, has existed since | | | | or light energy. The technology of photovoltaic, or |
| prehistoric times when men would magnify the | | | | PV as it is commonly called, converts the suns |
| sun's energy in efforts to start fires. | | | | energy into electric currents through the use of |
| The sun is a valuable resource that radiates | | | | solar cells. These electric currents can be used |
| enough energy on the United States in one day | | | | instantaneously or stored for later use. The PV |
| to meet the nation's needs for one and a half | | | | cells consist of pieces of silicon under a thin piece |
| years. Since it is a free, clean and renewable | | | | of glass. They have both a positive and negative |
| source of energy, it is an energy source that will | | | | charge. Simple examples of this are the solar |
| play a vital role in our future. | | | | powered calculators that are common today. |
| Using the sun's energy for our energy source | | | | More complex examples are solar panels placed |
| seems like an easy solution to having an energy | | | | on roofs. This consists of using thin film solar cells |
| supply forever. Harnessing the suns energy is | | | | as rooftop shingles, roof tiles, and even glazing for |
| where the problem lies. The sun's rays shine all | | | | skylights. Unfortunately, the cells generate only |
| over the world and not in just one spot. Although | | | | about one sixth of the sun's energy into |
| it takes only 8 minutes for sunlight to travel to | | | | electricity. This means bigger arrays are needed |
| the earth, trying to catch the rays over such a | | | | and along with this come larger costs. |
| wide area can prove to be tricky. Also, the | | | | Solar thermal power plants use the sun to heat |
| energy in any one given place will vary due to | | | | fluid, which in turn, is transferred into steam similar |
| factors, such as, clouds and weather conditions. | | | | to fossil fuel burning plants. The steam is |
| The history of using solar energy began in 1890's | | | | transformed into mechanical energy in a turbine |
| when solar water heaters were used in the United | | | | and electrical energy from a generator. The |
| States. Solar water heating requires a storage | | | | downfall is solar plants cannot produce energy on |
| collector and a storage tank. Flat plate solar | | | | cloudy days. |
| collectors are mounted on rooftops. Pipes carrying | | | | It is expected the next few years will see millions |
| water are pumped through these collectors. The | | | | of households using solar energy. As research |
| tubes are painted black so they will get hot | | | | continues and processes improve, using our sun |
| quicker. As the heat is collected the fluid in the | | | | as a renewable energy source will produce |
| tubes get heated. A storage tank holds the hot | | | | efficiency and cost savings. So, let the sun shine |
| liquid. This helps with central heating and cutting | | | | in and take full advantage of this warm energy |
| fuel costs. Solar heaters became popular when | | | | source where you live. |
| natural gas was expensive and burning wood and | | | | |